The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-04-23
A Circular from the Land Office Com.
missioner TO Land Attorneys.

Under date of March 10, Commits
sioner Sparks issued the following to
the registers and receivers of the vari-
Gus United States land offices:
Gentlemen: From and after the 18th
day of April, 1887, you will not recog-
nize any attorney or agent for claim
ants or ether parties to any proceedings
before you until he is complied with
the following regulations.
An attorney-at-law who desires to repre-.
sent claimants or contestants before your Of
flee shall Ole n certificate, under the seal of
the United States, state or territorial court
for the judicial district in which he resides or
the local land Office is situated, that he Is an
attorney In good standing.
z. Any person mot an attorney -at-lawl who
desires To appear AS an agens for claimants
before your Office rust file a certificate from
Judge OF United States court or of state
or territorial court having common law juris-
diction, except probate courts. I'm the county
wherein he resides or the local Office is sit
uated. duly authenticated under the seal OF
the court, that such person Is OF good moral
character and In good repute, possessed of
the qualifications 10 enable him to render
clients valuable service, and otherwise compe-
tent to advise and assist them in the presen-
tation OF their claims or contest
3. The oath OF ale glance required by section
3,4ss Of the United States revised statutes
must also be filled by applicants. In case of
a firm, the names OF the individuals COM
posing the firm must be given, and a certih.
cate and oath as to each member Of the firm
will be required.
4. An applicant ID practice under the above
regulations must address letter to the reg
lister ana receiver, inclosng tho certificate
and oath above required, i'm which letter his
full name and postoyice address must be
given. He must state whether or not he has
ever been recognized as any attorney or agent
before this department, or any bureau thereof
or any Of the local land Offices, aud IL so,
whether he has ever been suspended or dis
barred from practice. He must also state
whether he holds any office under the govern
ment of the United States.
After an application to practice has been
filled In due form, the register and receiver
will recognize the applicant as an attorney or
agent as the case may be, unless they have
good reason to believe that the person max
their Offices, or unless otherwise instructed by
the commissioner or secretary.
Registers and receivers must keep record
of the names and residences OF all attorneys
and agents recognized as entitled To repre-
sent clients in their several Offices
Every attorney must, either ut the time Of
entering his appearance for a claimant or con
testant or within thirty days thereafter, file
the written authority for such appearance,
signed by said claimant or contestant. and
setting forth his or her residence, occupation,
and postofiice address. Upon failure to file
such written authority within the time linz
tied. II shall be- the duty of the register and
receiver to no longer recognize him as an
attorney In the case.
An attorney In fact will he required to file
power of attorney of his principal duty ex-
ecuted. specifying the partys present resi-
dence, occupation and postoffce address.
When the appearance is for person other
than claimant or contestant of record the
attorney or agent will be required 10 state the
name of the person for whom he appears, his
postoffce address, the character and extent
OF his interest In the matters involved, and
when aud from what source II was acquired
Authorizations and powers signed executed
In blank will not he recognized.
II an attorney or agent shall knowingly com-
init any of the following acts. viz: Represent
fictitious or fraudulent entrymen; prosecute
collusive contests; speculate I'm relinquish-
ments Of entries; assist In procuring illegal or
fraudulent entries or filings; represent him.
self as the attorney or agent OF entrymcn
when he is only attorney or agent for trans
f~.
terests of his client. give pernicious advice 20
parties seeking TO obtain titles tn public lands:
attempt to prevent qualified person from
settling upon, entering, or fling for a tract OF
public land properly subject to such entry or
fling, or be otherwise guilty Of dishonest or
unprofessional conduct; or who In connection
with business pen ling In local land Offices or
In this department, shall knowingly employ
sub-agent, clerk, correspondent as person who
has been guilty OF any OF these acts, or has
been disbarred from practicing before the
register and receiver OF this department, II
will be sufficient reason Cor dsbarmeut from
practice, and you are authorized to refuse to
further recognize any person as nRent or at
torney who shall be known To you or be prov
en- before you to be guilty OF improper or un-
professional conduct as above stated.
An attorney or agent wbc has been admitted
to practice In any particular land district may
be enrolled and authorized to practice in any
other district upon filing with the register and
receiver OF such district o certifcate OF the
register or receiver before whom he was ad-
mitted to practice that he is an attorney or
agent IN good standing.
Any unprofessional conduct on the part OF
an attorney or agent should be reported 20
the commissioner at once, together with your
action In the premises.
Appeals from the action Of the register and
receiver in refusing to admit to practice or In
refusing 10 further recognize an agent or at
torncy will lie TO the commissioner and secre-
tary. as In other appealable cases. Very re-
spectfully. wM. A. SPARKS.
Approved: Commissioner.
l.. O O. LAMAR. Secretary. ~